Posted on 09/06/2011 2:13:54 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
A thousand homes and 100,000 acres have burned in just a week. A friend of mine who lives just outside Austin was forced to flee with her family last night as the flames encroached, and not until this afternoon did she learn whether her home had survived. (It had.) Go figure that this guy thinks he should do his job rather than gladhand people on the trail for a few days.
Presidential candidate and Texas Gov. Rick Perry said he does not yet know whether he will attend Wednesday night’s Republican presidential debate…
“I don’t know. That’s a fluid situation at the moment. Again I go back to we’re going to be taking care of the folks here … We’re really focused on the events at hand and the other side of that is we’re pretty good at multitasking,” said Perry on CBS’s “The Early Show” Tuesday…
“This is not the time to be talking about politics. There’s another 14 months ahead to talk politics. Right now I’m substantially more focused on making sure that these people … folks all across this state are being taken care of. Getting out of harms way, saving lives is the big issue for me right now,” Perry told CBS.
Serious question: Is there a single person whining at him for missing DeMint’s forum who wouldn’t also be whining if he had attended the forum that he had shirked his duties as governor?
“It’s obvious that Rick Perry is skipping the DeMint forum because he knew he was going to be asked tough questions about his previous support for gay marriage in New York, as well as his policies in Texas in favor of illegal immigration,” says one representative of a rival camp. “He’s looking for a reason to not actually be compared to the other candidates,” says an official in another camp. “He was grasping for a reason not to show.”
There are eight more debates scheduled before the Iowa caucuses, three of which will be held within the next 15 days. Plenty of opportunities left to quiz him about immigration, an issue on which he is in fact very vulnerable, and on gay marriage and the Tenth Amendment, which won’t hurt him at all given his appeal to evangelical leaders. Ultimately he’s the only one who suffers from having to miss these things since every absence gives Romney and Bachmann a chance to shine unhindered and to attack him without fear of retort. They may have no choice tomorrow night: According to NBC’s new poll, Perry leads Romney by fully 15 points, 38/23, with Bachmann a distant fourth (behind Ron Paul) at eight percent.
Have you noticed how trolls generally use some perjurious names when they comment on someone they do not like?
If he left the Lt. Gov in charge you’d be ripping him for that as well.
You should be embarrassed by your own ignorance. I've been hearing about wildfires in Texas on and off for, well, here's some news on that subject, from Perry himself:
Since December, wildfires in Texas have claimed 3.5 million acres (1.4 million hectares), an area the size of Connecticut, Perry said. The fires have destroyed more than 1,000 homes, he said.
Actually, the fires in Texas and the news stories have been going on even longer than I remembered.
Yes, but not one that I want in charge.
I don’t think Sarah will jump in, but now I’m hoping she does. After Perry ripped off Michele’s support, he is slowly being revealed as a RINO. Sarah has problems but she’s no RINO!
That is truly a hilarious post.
Perry refused to debate Bill White back in 2010. (Good thing for White, incidentally...as I saw Perry debate Tony Sanchez and I sort of felt bad for Tony by the end of it. Perry beat teh living S*%^@ out of him).
More likely, if one is so cynical to assume that Perry is not to be taken at good faith here, is that he has calculated that debating with the 7 dwarves, or however many there are, it is not worth the effort.
And he’s probably right.
Far from being done if he misses, his lead will grow wider.
Not to change the subject matter but there is now 2 confirmed deaths due to the Bastrop fire
Obviously Perry started the fires himself so as to give himself an excuse to not have to debate SARAH!
Perry refused to debate Bill White back in 2010.”
To finish the point. Perry didn’t bother to debate White. And he beat his soundly in the general.
These debates don’t really matter to the larger electorate, not even to the larger electorate that will decide teh GOP nomination.
(which, incidentally, will be all over by March 25....).
The Bastrop fire started Sunday.
Perry delegates very well. You should have seen him post Hurricane Ike - he likes to get in the trenches and be a part of the effort. He will roll up his sleeves and get after it.
He has been in contact with the emergency management every single day.
He is not Obama who takes off on vacation while his country/state is hurting.
DeMint’s group has invited Perry back for a makeup session to be scheduled later. Read that on RealClearPolitics.
Your offensive. There are Texans who are suffering right now and you are being calloused.
The Texas firefighters need donations - you can donate..
The Texas Wildfire Relief Fund– a statewide non-profit organization – and the State Firemen’s and Fire Marshals’ Association of Texas are in urgent need of donations to help equip volunteer firefighters across the state with the clothing, supplies and safety equipment they need to battle the wildfires. Secure, tax-deductible online donations can be made to the Texas Wildfire Relief Fund at txwildfirerelief.org.
Bless your heart.
BS just because some Paulette throws out a line or two were suppose to jump. Unlike Paul whose district has not been ravaged by fire YET. The Gov. has to be concern with the entire State.
The winds have died down that should help.
The whole US of A wants to and has to know more more about Perry, since he wants to be OUR, ALL OF THE US OF A’S President. In this jet and video-conference age he CERTAINLY CAN make the debate. Or is he a yellow bellied crony capitalist coward afraid to answer tough questions?
Is is some sort of super firefighter that you need him? Are the Texas firefighters so incompetent or poorly trained that ONLY PERRY THE GREAT AND MAGNIFICENT, like the Obama beloved of the Obama-lovers, can run every minute of the fire fighting?
According to Rick Perry, the began last December. See #43. And I don't care about the silliness of saying this fire began this week and that fire started last May and blah, blah, blah. Texas has been fighting fires for months.
But, since some are saying Perry now plans to attend the debate tomorrow, do you consider him be an irresponsible governor who doesn't care about the people of Texas?
He gets a mulligan from me.
RE: Obviously Perry started the fires himself so as to give himself an excuse to not have to debate SARAH!
I didn’t know Sarah was invited to the debates...
I’ve counted at least 5-6 other posts that have corrected you as well. Don’t attempt to broad-brush these latest natural disasters with all the other wildfires Texas is suffering with. That - as I said - is ignorant.
As one who was evacuated from the Bastrop fires, I know - first hand - what I’m speaklng about when it comes to the intensity of these fires.
Gov. Perry should be in Texas making the executive decisions that will save lives and property.
Good point about the White/Perry debate from last year.
Perry is no slouch when it comes to debate tactics. Who else but Perry can win a debate without even showing up?
Same thing this week. I believe Perry will increase his poll numbers after the debate if he IS NOT at the debate.
That’s a terrible post, bvw. The man’s first duty is to his current job, even if dealing with a emergency situation on that job means forfeiting his chance for a more desirable job.
Yep.
I have many problems with Perry but this isn't one of them.
Thirty years later, there is even less reason to employ this strategy thanks to modern technology and communications. Aside from the two hours of the debate itself, Perry can be in instant contact with anybody in Texas, just as if he was sitting in his office in Austin.
I know that some will attack him for going ahead with the debate (as he appears to be doing) but he will just come off as being weak to most if he blows the debate off.
Welcome to the world of national politics where you are damned if you do and damned if you don't. Just ask Sarah Palin about that!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.